John Rooke - Thinking Out Loud
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thinking Out Loud…while wondering why we can’t have a season full of “holiday” basketball tournaments…
• Sun, sand, sea…and hoops. How can you go wrong with that in November?
• However, too much sun, sand and sea can be trouble…just ask UConn, they lost to Central Florida 68-63 in the Bahamas. Although there was a guy named Marcus Jordan for UCF who had a big game (20 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists). And yes, he is the son of Michael Jordan. It’s the first loss for the Huskies since last March 5th, just before their Big East and NCAA Tournament runs…
• I’ve been privileged to see a lot during my seasons as a broadcaster, but I saw something last week that I had never seen before. UConn coach Jim Calhoun called a time out against Maine with only five seconds gone in the second half. Five seconds! He sat Jeremy Lamb down, gave him one of those patented Calhoun “talking to’s,” and after a few minutes of sulking, he was back in the game ripping the heart out of the Black Bears…
• Honestly. How can a team, a school, an institution – turn its’ back on a 118-year old rivalry? Texas A&M walking away to the SEC for more money, or because they’re jealous of Texas…or even because they’re tired of being picked on like a big brother picks on a little brother…I can understand. But to turn your back on history? Tradition? And generations of players, fans and alumni that came before you, too…that’s simply nothing more than selfishness, and outright cowardice…
• Texas’ winning on a last-second field goal on Thanksgiving Night, on A&M’s home field, just shows you karma does exist in this universe…
• I don’t care if you show me numbers, or stats, that might say otherwise. Tom Brady is not the same Tom Brady. Remember that when you watch him short-hop his next pass…
• No doubt about it…the “Gronk” is the next big sports cult hero in New England. And for every draft or free agent bust you bag Bill Belichick for, just remember he’s also responsible for seeing something in #87 out there…who basically missed his senior year at Arizona with injuries…
• Have the Patriots lost one they should have won this year? They always do…and I don’t count Buffalo. That was the law of averages taking over, more than anything else...maybe the Giants?
• BYU is out. And their own TV network is apparently the culprit…they don’t want to give up rights to their home football games, and I can’t really blame them. That’s a large reason why Notre Dame isn’t in the Big East for football. So…San Diego State now moves to the front burner…
• South Padre Island, TX is beautiful. I haven’t been to this part of the state since I was a teenager, but for someone who lived for 30 years in Texas, I never realized this was here. Just goes to show you how big a state this really is…about eight hours by car from Dallas-Fort Worth…
• South Padre is also the windsurfing capitol of the world…or so we’re told. “Go fly a kite” is taken literally here, especially on the beach…
• One thing Friar fans can be thankful for…Ed Cooley’s sense of family. He has shown how much he cares for his players (even ones he didn’t recruit), his staff and his co-workers around campus on this trip, and on campus before the current trip. If you didn’t know it before…you should know by now. PC has something special…
• The camaraderie among the PC players this year was never really bad last year…but this season, these guys do seem to really like each other. Perhaps it’s because they share a common bond of adversity? It makes me think we could be in for some surprises…
• Happy 21st birthday to Friar sophomore Gerard Coleman. His role has changed to coming off the bench this season…but his effectiveness on the floor has improved. He’s already among the nation’s leaders in scorers off of the bench…
• Brandon Marshall’s touchdown catch from Miami QB Matt Moore on Thanksgiving Day, while being mugged, is one of the great plays of this season. The Cowboys may have won the game, but that catch stole the show in my book…
• Ndomukong Suh’s “foot-stomp” on Green Bay’s Evan Dietrich-Smith was classless. I don’t care if it came in the “heat of battle,” or whatever. Players simply have to remember there is decorum, even in battle. A suspension is warranted…
• John beat Jim in the Harbaugh Bowl? Don’t be surprised. The Baltimore Ravens are still one of the teams’ to beat in the AFC, with a still-ferocious defense. The 49ers? Can you really take them seriously, unless they (or anyone else) can beat the Packers?
• Is it just me, or does anyone else get the feeling that we should all lower our expectations for next year’s Red Sox season? And why is that?
• The Sox did offer David Ortiz and Pilgrim High School’s Dan Wheeler salary arbitration for next year. And even though they declined to offer Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield, among others, it doesn’t necessarily mean those guys won’t be back. But they shouldn’t be back…
• Bryant football had an outstanding season in its’ final year of transitional play from Division II to Division I. As the team finished 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the Northeast Conference, junior running back Jordan Brown also led the nation (FCS programs) in rushing with 1815 yards, and was named the NEC Offensive Player of the Year…
• If this is the end of the road for Peter Manfredo, Jr.’s ring career…what a ride it has been. From TV star to true boxing contender to champ…I’d say he managed to just about “touch ‘em all.” Always giving, and always willing to help a worthy cause, congrats Peter. You’ve earned it…
• There’s an opening in the Diamond Head Classic next Christmas in Hawaii, I’m told. Seems like a pretty good place to showcase your new Friar recruiting class, doesn’t it Coach Cooley?
• This week’s mailbag question comes from George in Maryland: “A win is a win is a win. How come we never say that when the Pats win?” George – Because, as I am sure you are aware, we hold our pro sports teams to an extremely high standard in New England. Is it fair? No, probably not. But that’s what winning will do to you. It spoils you, it spoils the media. And eventually, it spoils the players, too…
• Interested in having your questions on local RI sports (including the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? Send ‘em to me! It’s your chance to “think out loud,” so send your questions and comments to [email protected]. We’ll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Follow me on Twitter, @jrooke0722…and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke
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